Department of Health (Hong Kong)
Hong Kong's Department of Health is responsible for healthcare policies and the provision of basic healthcare services and established in 1939. The public hospitals are managed by the department's Hospital Authority. The department reports to the Food and Health Bureau.
The department is headed by the Director of Health, a position currently held by Dr Hon Yee Chan.
History
In the past, health and medical issues fell under the purview of the Medical and Health Department. This changed with reforms to Hong Kong's healthcare system in the late 1980s. In October 1987, Governor David Wilson officially announced the government's intention to establish a new, semi-independent Hospital Authority, which would be administered by a new Hospital Services Department. In April 1989, the Medical and Health Department was split into the Department of Health and the Hospital Services Department. The Hospital Authority was set up in 1990.Structure
The Department of Health provides its broad range and diverse services to Hongkongers through different divisions, offices, and centres. The following is a list of them:| Centre for Health Protection |
| Child Assessment Service |
| Chinese Medicine |
| Clinical Genetic Service |
| Dental Service |
| Elderly Health Service |
| Family Health Service |
| Forensic Pathology Service |
| Medical Device Control Office |
| Methadone Clinics |
| Office for Registration of Healthcare Institutions |
| Pharmaceutical Service |
| Port Health |
| Professional Development and Quality Assurance |
| Radiation Health Unit |
| Registration of Health Professionals |
| Student Health Service |
| Tobacco Control Office |